Kathlyne Gaber

Professional Portfolio

COS Internship: Nursing at Montrose Memorial


The Colorado Department of Education defines "Professional" using the following descriptors:

  • time & work management
  • career literacy
  • grit and resilience
  • work ethic; dependable and reliable

My Personal Definition:

  • In my opinion, professionalism is not just time and work ethic, grit and literacy, but also the amount of detail and finesse that you put into every single thing you do that is related in any way to what you are trying to be professional in. For example, If you want to be more professional in your schoolwork, not only must your grades go up, but you must also improve your hand writing, your punctuality, and your attitude.

Career Q&A

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My Future Plan &

Career Statement

I strive to be a hardworking and compassionate registered nurse who aims toward identifying and prioritizing patient needs as well as incorporating a variety of health care resources into an individualized care plan to help the patient the best I can holistically. To accomplish this goal, I will attend UCCS upon graduation majoring in nursing.

Internship Overview

Resume

Brooke Resume.pdf

Current Experience & Employment

After school and full time during the summer, I work as a repair technician on cell phones, tablets, and everything electronics at a local repair shop, which is called Shattered Image. I have learned many customer service skills along with electrical skills and technician skills

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Goals I set for myself:

  • Service Orientation: acts professionally and calmly at all times when interacting with others; consistently demonstrates concern and courtesy towards colleagues and customers; treats all people respectfully; takes personal responsibility for correcting problems; follows up with individuals to ensure satisfaction with the level of service they have received.
  • Working Collaboratively: works collegially with others, cooperating in both interpersonal and team relationships; fosters enthusiasm and maintains mutual trust, candor and respect. If applicable, manages groups effectively and builds partnerships with others.
  • Initiative: takes action to improve a situation without waiting for explicit instructions; understands how one's own actions relate to the University's and department’s strategic goals; recognizes and responds to opportunities in order to reach a goal; seeks new and improved techniques, solutions, and approaches to completing assignments.

Soft-skills I focused on:

  • Communication.
  • Attitude and confidence.
  • Teamwork.
  • Networking.
  • Critical thinking and creative problem solving.
  • Professionalism.
  • Empathy.
  • Conflict resolution

My Personal Experience

970 Studio Presentation.mov

What I Learned:

Reflective Essay

Compassionate Care

Would you believe that a fun photo shoot with a blue “Katy Perry” wig was the highlight of my internship at UPMC Shadyside Hospital? This experience is significant, as it taught me to remember three very important things: put yourself in someone else’s shoes, care for others how you would like to be cared for, and always make your compassion for nursing and providing quality care known. These three concepts have been intricately woven into many unique patient care experiences this summer.For this internship, I was placed on a hematology oncology unit, where most patients have been diagnosed with leukemia. One female patient on the floor particularly feared her approaching hair loss, and she opened up to me about her feelings, saying that she was scared because she had never even had short hair, let alone none. This woman happened to have a daughter who hoped “mommy’s hair would grow back blue,” so the day following our conversation, I brought in a blue wig! We had a photo shoot, making funny faces and trying out different poses with her stylin’ new hair. Though this experience may seem as though it barely encapsulates the nursing profession, this moment is what it’s all about, in my opinion! As the biggest smile appeared on my patient’s face at the sight of the wig, I couldn’t believe that such a tiny gesture could make such a big difference. The experience brought positivity, laughter, and excitement to my patient as she sent the pictures to her family that morning. Shown in many different ways, compassion always goes a long way!

Providing Dignity and Respect

The brain – arguably the most complex organ in the entire body – can be both amazing and scary at the same time. While working on a neuro trauma unit, an important lesson I learned was how to care for patients who are unable to communicate for themselves.My preceptor and I were working night shift when we received a patient who had been in a motor vehicle accident that left him non-communicable in all forms – he could not talk, move, or even blink. However, even though he could not communicate, the first thing we did coming into the room was introduce ourselves. Every time we interacted with the patient, we made sure to explain to him what we were doing before we did the task. We made it a priority to turn and reposition him every two hours to protect his skin and we also gave him a bath and fresh sheets. In report, we learned that the family said the patient loved country music, so we put a country music station on a radio beside the patient’s bed for him to listen to for a few hours. We also gave him intermittent periods of quiet rest and put the morning news on for him when it was daylight. Through this patient care experience, I learned the importance of anticipating a patient’s needs, especially when he or she cannot express them verbally. Treating all patients with the same level of dignity and respect, and always putting yourself in other’s shoes are essential components of providing quality patient care!

Caring for a Friend

Throughout this internship, I have had many interesting patient care experiences. However, one that stands out from the rest is my first night shift of the summer – it was the first of three in a row, and I was terrified! Upon arrival, I received my patient assignments and quickly realized that a friend from college was one of my patients. I knew she had been diagnosed with a brain tumor this past school year and was holding off on surgery because she feared her appearance with a shaved head and staples. In fact, I had just seen her mother’s post on Facebook that morning that it was finally the day her family had been dreading and anxiously awaiting for months. What a coincidence, that out of all the units, beds, and patients in the hospital, I was assigned to her care team!